U.S. Navy Weighs $22 Billion Carrier Redesign as Trump Pushes WWII-Era Look
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 15
U.S. Navy Weighs $22 Billion Carrier Redesign as Trump Pushes WWII-Era Look
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 15
Summary
Three Ford-class carriers could face a fresh design review after the Navy began assessing whether to move the carrier “island” forward to satisfy Trump’s objections to the ships’ current appearance.
Officials said the change would be a major redesign: a first-term study found it could cost billions and significantly delay the program by altering buoyancy, weight and flight-deck operations.
That review comes a day after Trump ordered the Navy to plan a return to steam catapults on future carriers, another reversal that officials say could also add billions and worsen chronic shipbuilding delays.
Up to 10 Ford-class carriers are planned over four decades at about $22 billion each, underscoring how White House intervention is reaching deep into naval design as the fleet already faces readiness and maintenance strains.